Online Fraud and
Phishing
If
you receive any suspicious E-mail or link to a website that appears to
be from Northern Star Credit Union, report it to
abuse@nstarcu.org
Phishing is the act of obtaining personal information by use of E-mail scams
or fraudulent websites.
A Phishing scam can be very difficult to detect since thieves will
dress up their E-mail and website to look like it is coming from a
real Business or Financial Institution. These E-mails and websites
take many forms, such as a Survey, Questionnaire, or Notice of
Expiring Service. Many even offer the chance to receive Money or
Gifts for filling out a Survey or Questionnaire. To help prevent you
from becoming a victim, we have come up with some tips and precautions
to identify a Phishing Scam.
Never Give Out Personal Information
Northern Star Credit Union will NEVER send an E-Mail to obtain or
verify your Name, Address, Social Security Number, Phone Number,
Account Number, PIN Number or Credit/Debit Card Number. If you have
opened an account with us, we already have that information so there
is no need for us to ask you for it again! Furthermore, we do not
accept changes of Name, Address, Phone Number, or E-Mail address
through our website or E-mail. Changes like this must be made in
person at one of our Northern Star Credit Union Branches.
Be Cautious of Fake Surveys
From time to time, Northern Star Credit Union may ask our members to fill
out a Survey to help us improve our level of service. However, these
surveys are anonymous and we DO NOT ask for your Address, Social
Security Number, Phone Number, Account Number, PIN Number or
Credit/Debit Card Number on the form. If you receive an E-mail or
link to a website that asks for any this information, do not answer
any of the questions and report the E-mail or link to Northern Star
Credit Union.
Information on Expiring Services
Northern Star Credit Unions offers Online Home Banking, a Telephone
Audio Response Line, and Online Bill Payment services to its members.
These services NEVER expire and are closed out automatically if a
member closes their account. Since these services NEVER expire, we
will never contact you to renew them.
Temporarily Suspended Account
Many Phishing Scams
will send fake E-mails disguising themselves as a financial
institution that has suspended your account due to a billing error or
failure to update your account information. These fake E-mails will
take you to a link that asks for information like your name, Address,
Social Security Number, Phone Number, Account Number, PIN Number or
Credit/Debit Card Number. Northern Star Credit Union members will be
contacted by one of our staff and asked to come to one of our branches
if there is a problem with their account or if account information
needs to be updated. Northern Star Credit Union will never contact
you via e-mail regarding the status of your account or to update your
personal information.
If you have followed any links or e-mail and submitted your personal
information, please contact us at 757-487-3474 or come into any of our
branches immediately.
If you receive any suspicious E-mail or link to a website that appears to
be from Northern Star Credit Union, report it to
abuse@nstarcu.org
For more information on Phishing, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has
released a document
“How Not to Get Hooked by a ‘Phishing’
Scam.”
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For more information on Identity Theft and Online Scams:
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Credit Reporting Companies |
United States Government |
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
Experian: 1-888-397-3742
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
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Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Hotline:
1-877-ID-THEFT or 1-877-438-4338
To visit the FTC Identity Theft website, click
here.
Social Security Administration Fraud Hotline:
1-800-269-0271
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